Acetylene tank



June 15 1926.

R. A. sossoue ACET YLENE TANK Filed July 24, 1923 INVENTOR B @w' 292 M 0 1w...

LJA'ITORNEYS l atented dune 15, 1926.

ETED STATES 1.5 8.859 PATENT @FF-ICE.

IRA'ZMQND A. SOSSQNG, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AIR REDUC- TION COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ACE'IYLENE TANK.

Application filed; July 24, 1923. Serial No. 653,424.

This invention relates to acetylene tanks and particularly to a safety device therefor whereby greater security and longer life of the tanks are assured.

Acetylene is commonly distributed in steel tanks which are first filled with a porous material such as pith or Balsa wood with or without binders such as asbestos. Acetone is then forced into the tank until the contents of the tank is thoroughly saturated. Acetylene is introduced at high pressure and is dissolved by the acetone. By releasing the pressure the acetylene is. permitted to escape for any desired use. The high pressures employed make it imperative that the tanks be sound and sufliciently strong. They are frequently tested to avoid possibility of the development of latent defects which might cause a failure of the pressure-sustaining wall while the tank is filled with acetylene under pressure.

Acetylene tanks are made of steel and are cylindrical inshape with a spud for a valve at the top. The bottoms are commonly flanged and welded to the shell at the lower edge thereof. As the tanks are quite heavy it 1s customary to handle them by tilting v and rolling on the lower edge to which the bottom is joined. When this operation is repeated on concrete floors and similar hard surfaces, the lower edge and the flange of the bottom with the welded joint are gradually Worn away and in many cases the welds have been found to have been worn so thin that the tanks are no longer safe.

It is the object of the present invention to avoid the possibility of weakening the welded joint between the bottom and shell of an acetylene tank and to provide a simple and eflective reinforcement for the tank which will ensure the maintenance thereof in safe condition for an almost, indefinite period.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing in which the figure is a sectional view of a tank embodying the invention.

The invention involves the application of a steel collar to the tank in such a manner that it will embrace the lower edge of both the tank and the bottom flange. Preferably the collar is applied by sweating it onto the tank, that is to say, by heating and thus expanding the collar and allowing it to cool i what deeper than the inner leg but this is notessential, The collar may be made of ordinary low-carbon steel, or if additional hardness is desired, a steel of suitable composition, such as is well known in the art, may be employed.

Referring to the drawing 5 indicates the shell of the tank to the top of which a spud 6 is secured. A valve 7 is inserted in the spud. A bottom 8 is flanged at'9 and is secured to the shell by welding along the line ofcontact of the lower'edges of the shell and flange. The welding may be ac.- comphshed by means of an oxyacetylene torch, for example, in the wellknown manner. Usually the bottom is provided with one or more safety plugs 10 of fusible metal to permit escape of the gaseous contents in the event that the tank is subjected to excessive heat. The tank is filled with material 11 such as is commonly employed in acetylene tanks to prevent the accumulation of free or gaseous acetylene therein.

A collar 12 which is U-shaped in crosssect1on is secured to the lower edges of the shell and bottom flange so as to embrace both edges and to provide a wear-resisting surface which prevents abrasion of the weld between these edges. This collar, as illustrated, has an outer leg which is slightly deeper than the inner leg, the depth of whlch is approximately equal to that of the flange. The collar is preferably applied by heating it to substantially red heat and a plying it while heated to the edges oft e shell and flange. Upon cooling the collar will grip the sides and will remain permanently as a part of the tank. ()1? course the collar could be welded or otherwise secured to the tank.

The collar provides a safety device by avoiding all danger of weakening of the weld between the shell and bottom. This ordinarily would not be noticed and if the weld was still strong enough to withstand the pressure when the tank was tested after use, it might go back into service and become worn within a short time to a dangerous degree. Any extensive wear on the safety collar will be at once apparent and before the weld is affected a new collar could be substituted.

Various changes may be made within the scope of the accompanying claim without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim v An abetylene tank, comprising a shell, a bottom for the shell having a flange which is adapted to fit within the lower end of the shell, this flange bein welded to the lower edge of the shell an a replaceable safety collar covering this weld connection, this safety collar being U-shape in cross section with its two legs engaging the flange and the lower edge of the shell and with its bight portion covering the weld connection, the safety collar being adapted to contact with floors as the tank is rolled from place to place to thereby prevent wear and the resultant weakeningof the weld connection between the flange and lower edge of the shell.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RAYMOND A. SOSSONG. 

